Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02934727 2016-06-30
PORTABLE LIGHT
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Serial No. 62/269,314, filed
December 18, 2015, entitled "Portable Light,"
and also claims benefit of U.S. Utility Application
Serial No. 15/156,988, filed May 17, 2016, entitled
"Portable Light".
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a portable light.
More particularly, the invention relates to a portable LED
work light.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] Portable lights are known for use in various work
situations, including working on an automobile and working
in the home. In such instances, there is not an adequate
amount of light, e.g. working on a car in a garage or
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working on a sink in the home; and a portable light source
is required to illuminate the work area; be easy to move
about; direct the light source to the specific zones of the
work area; be sturdy to avoid damage; be adjustable to move
the light to different zones of the work area; and/or being
capable of absorbing contact in the event the portable light
falls or is dropped.
[0004] Various types of work lights are known in the art.
While these devices may provide one or more of the desired
attributes, including as set forth above, these devices have
various shortcomings and may not meet the various attributes
required for a portable work light. These and other
shortcomings of the known portable work lights are addressed
by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] A primary aspect of the present invention seeks to
provide a portable work light.
[0006] Another primary aspect of the present invention seeks
to provide a portable LED work light capable of providing
sufficient illumination to the work area and adapted to be
adjusted to different positions for illuminating the work
area.
[0007] Another primary aspect of the present invention seeks
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to provide a portable LED work light including a plurality
of bumpers for protecting the different contact areas of the
work light.
[0008] Another primary aspect of the present invention seeks
to provide a new and unique protective housing for the LED
light source.
[0009] Another primary aspect of the present invention seeks
to provide a new and unique combination stand and handle
which ratchets and may be placed in a plurality of different
positions.
[00010] The portable work light of the invention comprises
a front cover having a LED light source; a protective
housing for the LED light source; a back housing for
enclosing the portable light and the various components
thereof; a power source and electrical components for
operating the portable light; a ratcheting stand and handle;
and a plurality of bumpers for protecting certain of the
contact points of the portable light.
[00011] The protective housing for the LED light source
includes an outer annular housing having a recess for
receiving a lens, preferably a beveled lens, to cover and
protect the LED light source.
[00012] The ratcheting stand and handle allows the
portable light to be stood in a plurality of different
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positions providing the stand functionality or ratcheting to a 180
degree angle position for carrying or hanging the portable light.
[00013] The plurality of bumpers are preferably attached at certain
of the contact points of the portable light, thereby protecting these
contact points in the event that the light is dropped, falls or is
knocked over.
[00013A] In a broad aspect, the invention pertains to a portable
light comprising a front cover having an LED light and having bumpers
at least at the corners thereof. There is a back housing connected to
the front cover, and a combination ratchet handle and stand is
connected to the front cover having bumpers at the corners thereof and
adapted to allow the portable light to stand by itself in one or more
positions. A protective housing for the LED light comprises an
annular housing having a recess area which decreases in diameter from
a top of the annular housing to an inside bottom of the annular
housing, and a lens assembly includes a beveled lens.
[00013B] In a further aspect, the invention provides a portable
light comprising a front cover having an LED light and including
bumpers at least at each of the corners of the front cover. A back
housing is connected to the front cover and has bumpers at least at
each of the corners of the back housing. A combination ratchet handle
and stand are connected to the front cover having bumpers at the
corners thereof, and adapted to allow the portable light to stand by
itself in one or more positions.
[00013C] In a still further aspect, the invention embodies a
portable light comprising a front cover, a back housing and a
combination ratchet handle and stand connected to the front cover, or
to the back housing, or to both the front cover and the back housing.
The front cover includes an LED light and a protective housing for the
LED light, comprising an annular housing having a recess area which
decreases in diameter from a top of the annular housing to an inside
bottom of the annular housing, and a lens assembly including a beveled
lens.
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[00013D] Yet further, the invention provides a portable light
comprising a housing. The housing comprises a front cover having an
LED light and having bumpers at least at the corners thereof, and a
back connected to the front cover. A combination ratchet handle and
stand are connected to the housing and adapted to allow the portable
light to stand by itself in one or more positions, and a protective
housing for the LED light has a recess area and a lens covering the
LED light.
[00014] These primary and other aspects of the invention will be
apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments
of the invention and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00015] The following detailed description of the specific non-
limiting embodiments of the present invention can be best understood
when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like
structures are indicated by like reference numbers.
[00016] Referring to the drawings:
[00017] FIGURE 1 is a front/side elevational perspective view of
the portable light.
[00018] FIGURE 2 is a front view of the light.
[00019] FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the light.
[00020] FIGURE 4 is a similar view to Figure 3.
[00021] FIGURE 5 is a side view of the light.
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[00022] FIGURE 6 is a top view of the light.
[00023] FIGURE 7 is a bottom view of the light.
[00024] FIGURE 8 is a back elevational perspective view of
the light showing the ratcheting stand for holding a light
in a certain position.
[00025] FIGURE 9 is a front view of the light showing the
ratcheting stand and handle in a carrying position for the
light.
[00026] FIGURE 10 is an exploded view of one embodiment of
the portable light of the invention.
[00027] FIGURE 11 is a cross-section of one embodiment of
the portable work light.
[00028] FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the charger for
the portable light.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[00029] The present invention is directed to a portable
light. More specifically, the present invention is directed
to a portable LED work light capable of providing the
necessary illumination to a work area such as an automotive
garage or a work area in the home. The portable light of
the present invention includes a ratchet stand and handle
for positioning the light at various positions to focus the
light on a specific zone of the work area or to carry the
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light or hang the light. The portable work light further
includes a plurality of bumpers for protecting the multiple
contact points of the light to provide for a sturdy work
light and a work light subject to the rigors of being used
in an automotive garage or similar work area. The portable
work light further includes a light source housing capable
of providing illumination and protecting the light source.
These and other various aspects of the present invention
will become apparent from the detailed description of the
invention.
[00030] The invention is directed to a portable light 10.
The portable light 10 includes a front cover 12, a back
housing 14, a light source 16, a ratchet stand and handle
18, a power switch 20, a plurality of electrical ports 22, a
plurality of bumpers 24, a power source 26 and an electrical
PLC board 28. Various aspects of the invention will now be
described in further detail.
[00031] The front cover 12 and back housing 14 enclose
various component parts of the portable light and may be
attached to each other by suitable fasteners such as allen
screws 12a as shown, for example, in Figures 3 and 10. The
front cover 12 and back housing 14 are preferably made of
metal or a molded plastic material. The front cover 12 has
a slightly concave panel 30 and a housing 32 which mates
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with back housing 14. The slightly concave shape as shown,
for example, in Figures 5 and 8, allows the light to stand
better, to focus the illumination of the light and to
protect the light source 16 from damage if the portable
light is dropped or tipped over. The front housing further
includes a plurality of rings 33, primarily for aesthetics.
[00032] The front cover 12 includes the light source 16
and a protective housing 34 for the light source 16.
Protective housing 34 includes an annular housing 36 made of
metal, plastic or similar material connected to the front
housing 12 by a plurality of fastening members 38,
preferably allen screws. In a preferred embodiment, three
fastening members 38 are used and "dummy" fastener members
are formed in the three additional recesses 39. The annular
housing 36 includes a recess area 40 which decreases in
diameter from the outside to the inside of the housing.
There is a lens assembly including beveled plastic
protective lens 42, an annular beveled ring 44 and 0-ring
46, all situated to protect a LED light source 48,
preferably a COB LED light source. The beveled lens 42,
preferably solid throughout, also provides for direction of
the illumination of the light source 48.
[00033] The front cover includes bumpers 24 which are
secured in recessed portions 50 of the corners of the front
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cover by fastening members such as alien screws 52 and nuts
52a. The protective bumpers may include grooves 54 for
aesthetics and gripping, with the understanding that
different bumper configurations may be used and that the
bumper may extend around the entire front cover 12. The
bumpers 24 are preferably made of rubber or other shock
absorbing material. As shown, for example, in Figure 5, the
light source 16 is recessed such that if the light is tipped
over, there is no contact of the light source with a contact
area. Additionally, the front cover includes a location BN
for a brand name.
[00034] The back housing 14 provides a protective
enclosure for the light source 16, the power source 26,
preferably a rechargeable lithium battery, the electrical
PLC board 28; and includes the power switch 20 and
electrical ports 22. Power switch 20 is preferably made of
a plastic material and is water resistant. The power switch
may have an on/off setting, preferably four settings; namely
a setting for a high 1100 lumen light source; an off
setting; a setting for a low 425 lumen light source; and an
off setting, i.e. high-off-low-off. It is understood that
different high and low lumens may be used for the light
source and different settings for the high and low lumens.
[00035] Electrical ports 22 are protected by a protective
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cover 60, preferably transparent to view the electrical
ports and see the battery indicators as discussed below,
which provides a protective water resistant seal for ports
22. The protective cover 60 includes a thumb member 62 for
opening the housing. The thumb member 62 includes a locking
member 64 having a lip 66 for frictionally engaging a groove
68 of electrical port housing 70. There is a rubber gasket
72 in a groove 74 which engages the outer wall 76 to keep
the electrical ports 22 secure from the environment, e.g.
water or debris, when the protective cover 60 is in a closed
position. Protective cover 60 is capable of opening on a
hinge 78 180 degrees as seen in Figure 4. The electrical
ports 22 include a charging power input port 80 for charging
from a power adaptor 82 having an input jack 83 as shown in
Figure 12. Once the charger is connected, the charging
indicator on the adaptor will turn red while charging. When
the portable light is fully charged, the adaptor indicator
will turn green. The light may also be used under
continuous AC power with the power adaptor 82 connected to
the light.
[00036] As seen in Figures 3 and 4, there is a battery
charge level indicator 84. This includes a button 86 and
three LED lights 88. When the button 86 is pressed, the LED
lights below the button will illuminate for a predetermined
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time period, e.g. three seconds, indicating the battery
charge level. For example, illumination of three LED lights
88 may indicate a 70 to 100 percent charge; illumination of
two LED lights 88 may indicate a 40 to 69 percent charge;
and illumination of one LED light 88 may indicate a 1 to 39
percent charge. When in operation, if the battery charge
reaches ten percent or below, the bottom LED light may
illuminate red to indicate the low level of the charge.
[00037] There is further included a USE output charging
port 90. The USB port is compatible with any outbound USE
cable. To begin outbound charging, the USB end of a cable
is plugged into the port, the other end is then connected
into the device, e.g. a telephone, tablet or laptop. The
battery charge level indicator button 86 is pressed and held
for, e.g. three seconds, to engage the outbound power. When
in use, the battery charge level indicator lights will
illuminate displaying the amount of charge the light battery
has reserved.
[00038] Referring now, for example, to Figures 5, 8 and 9,
the work light includes a ratchet stand and handle 18. The
ratchet stand and handle is capable of moving to different
positions, e.g. six different positions for providing
different stand positions as shown, for example, in Figure
8. When the work light is not in use, the ratchet stand
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will be in a closed position as shown for example in Figures
1 and 5. When the light is in use, the ratchet stand will
be moved to the desired position for positioning the light
source on the zone of the work area. As seen, for example,
in Figures 5 and 9, the ratcheting stand and handle 18 may
rotated 180 degrees to carry the portable light or to place
the portable light in a hanging position to illuminate the
work area (not shown). The ratcheting mechanism is shown in
Figure 10 and includes a handle end 100 having a ratchet end
102 (shown in Figure 10 both attached to the handle end and
exploded from the handle end) and a rotating end 104. Ends
102 and 104 fit into a slots 106 and 106a formed by slot
members 108 of front cover 12 and slot member 110 of rear
housing 14. Ratchet end 102 includes a gear member 112,
preferably having twelve teeth 113, for providing six
different positions for the handle 18. There is a spring
and ball bearing in slot 106a (formed by 108 and 110) to
allow for ratcheting of the handle. As seen, handle 100
includes bumpers 24 attached to the handle by a fastening
means such as alien screws. Similarly, back housing 14
includes bumpers 24 attached at each corner of the back
housing. As apparent, in a preferred embodiment, no contact
point of the portable light is left without a contact point
bumper 24 so if the light is dropped, tipped over or is
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,
,
otherwise dislodged, each of the contact points is protected
and absorbs any force of the falling portable light. It is
understood, however, that a different number of bumpers 24
may be used.
[00039] As set forth above, power source 26 is located
inside the back housing 14 and is preferably a plurality of
rechargeable lithium battery, e.g. three batteries. It is
held in place by a bracket 120. Battery 26 is connected to
electric PLC board 28 at connection 122 and LED light source
48 is connected to electrical PLC board at connection 124.
[00040] The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not
intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the
scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were
chosen and described in order to explain the principles of
the present invention so that others skilled in the art may
practice the invention. As will be apparent to one skilled
in the art, various modifications can be made within the
scope of the aforesaid description. Such modifications
being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a
part of the present invention and are embraced by any
appended claims.
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